The Fall – The Powerstation (Concert Review)
They say you need to see The Fall at least once before you die. Well, I can tick that one off my bucket list. Was it worth it? Not really. Mark E Smith and his ever-changing crew may have been relevant at some point in their 30 + year career, but for this neophyte, I’m guessing that The Fall’s train has long since left the station.
These days, in addition to Mark E. Smith on vocals, The Fall consists of guitarist Peter Greenway, bass player David Spurr, drummer Keiron Mulling and Elena Poulou on keyboards and vocals. The band made their way on stage just after 10PM. They launched into a groove immediately, while Smith wandered on stage, mumbled a few lyrics, took off his jacket and tried to create a bit of audio havoc by pointing his mic directly at an amp, but got no result.
Smith then proceeded to sing incoherently, fumble with his microphones, wander off stage to hang up his jacket and fiddle around with the volume of the keyboard amp.
I’m assuming this is the notorious petulant and abrasive behaviour Smith is known for. His long-time fans, of which there seemed to be plenty in attendance, found it par for the course. To me, it was, at best, annoying, and, at worst, pathetic.
I will give Smith credit…he has seemed to invent a new musical genre…”Get Of My Lawn Rock”. That’s how he came across…as a miserable old codger ranting incomprehensibly at whoever would listen.
Meanwhile the band played on, cranking out generic rock music, going through chord changes while Smith mumbled, banged on the keyboard, fumbled with pages of lyrics and poked his fingers across Greenway’s fret board.
Forty minutes into the set, Smith inexplicably signalled for the band to leave the stage. They did and the crowd stood around, seemingly confused, not applauding, but waiting.
Four minutes later they were back and Smith seemed a bit more engaged, although he still wandered off stage a few more times, leaving Poulou and Spurr to handle the vocals.
Finally, the set was over, about an hour after it started. For those who waited around for the encore, well, it was the highlight of the evening. The band actually rocked and Smith actually sang White Lightning and Mr Pharmacist. I’m glad I hung around to hear the last two tunes, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing The Fall again anytime soon.
Marty Duda
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October 19, 2015 @ 11:25 pm
Well nothings changed then regarding the fall. I saw them in the 80’s and they were just as disappointing then as they sound now. A real letdown and didn’t even reach an hour on stage. As a live performance they didn’t crack it. Not so John cooper clark who was before them!
October 22, 2015 @ 8:29 pm
The Fall are not designed or made for neophytes would be my obvious comment. I have followed them (or Mark E) for 30 years to varying degrees. If you just want to cross them off a bucket list, well you have to accept what they are doing at the time. Don’t expect a Greatest Hits package, that sort of thing. I saw them in Sydney last night and the short timing etc applied here as well. Saw them in 2010 as well, possibly slightly better. I think the current band has a hypnotic sort of droning power well suited to Mark E’s rambling gargling vocals over the top. The Man is an original so we just have to accept him for what he is currently up to as “normal” standards do not apply.